The former US president responded to a Washington Post report that FBI agents sought to recover documents linked to nuclear weapons when they searched his Florida residence.
Former US President Donald Trump claimed in a post on social media that “the issue of nuclear weapons is a hoax”, reacting to a newspaper report Washington Post according to which FBI agents sought to recover documents relating to the nuclear weapons when they searched his Florida residence earlier this week.
It is unclear whether the documents were found at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, according to the report. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.
The Justice Department on Thursday asked a judge to release the warrant that authorized the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago after Republican Trump called it political retaliation.
This morning (local time), Trump said on the social media startup he created, Truth Social, that “the nuclear weapons thing is a hoax,” equating it to the standoff involving Russia, with an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller and his two subpoenas.
“Some nasty people are involved,” he said.
Trump has not provided any evidence to support his claim of “fraud” or his claim that the evidence was “planted.”
“Why didn’t the FBI allow the Mar-a-Lago premises to be searched in the presence of our attorney, or others?” Trump further told Truth Social.
The search of his residence was part of an ongoing investigation into whether Trump illegally removed records from the White House when he left in January 2021, some of which the Justice Department believes are classified.
Attorney General Merck Garland, the top US law enforcement official appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, said at a press conference on Thursday that he personally authorized the search of Trump’s Florida residence. The Justice Department is also seeking to release a receipt for the seized items.
“The department does not take such a decision lightly. Where possible, it is standard practice to pursue less intrusive means as an alternative to an investigation and to closely scrutinize any investigation undertaken,” Garland said.
His decision to publicly confirm the search of Trump’s residence was unusual. Law enforcement officials in the US typically do not discuss ongoing investigations to protect citizens’ rights. In that case, Trump himself announced the investigation in a statement Monday night.
Garland said the Justice Department requested the warrant be released “in light of the former president’s public confirmation of the investigation, the surrounding circumstances and the substantial public interest in this matter.”
Late Thursday, Trump requested the immediate release of documents related to the search of his residence. The government has until 22:00 Greek time today to inform the court whether Trump’s lawyers will oppose the unsealing of the warrant.
A source familiar with the matter said the FBI recovered about ten boxes from Trump’s property during the investigation.
Trump was not in Florida at the time.
The unprecedented search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home marked a major escalation in one of the many investigations facing the former US president over his actions while in office and his business dealings.
The investigation into Trump’s removal of records began this year after the National Archives made a related referral to the department.
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